TEAM manager Neil Middleditch is confident Pirates' riders will build a good rapport in the pits in the upcoming season.

Four of the septet – Brady Kurtz, Josh Grajczonek, Chris Holder and James Shanes – have ridden for the club before.

They are joined by Polish pair Kacper Woryna and Mateusz Szczepaniak and Swede Linus Sundstrom, all of whom speak excellent English.

And Middleditch told the Daily Echo: "I think the potential for team spirit is great. I don't want them to mix in their own groups but the fact we have the Aussie connection and the Polish connection is good.

"They are all of a similar age and are good lads. They are very keen, have good equipment, are very professional and they all want to succeed and I think that's good.

"For Shanesie, the lone Brit, I think it's going to be a great time for him. He's going to find it a bit tougher this year but he improved towards the end of last season.

"He has some good equipment this year and, hopefully, he can step up a bit. It will be tough but with the six we've got, he can afford not to bang in seven or eight points in a meeting."